Seed germination of the halophyte Anabasis setifera (Amaranthaceae) from Saudi Arabia

The main objective of this study was to determine the effects of temperature light/darkness and salinity (NaCl) on seed germination of Anabasis setifera Moq. and the effects of alleviating salinity stress using distilled water. All of the seeds completed germination at 15/5, 20/10, and 20 °C; a higher percentage of seeds completed germination in light than in the dark at 20/10 and 25/15 °C. The percentage of seeds that completed germination decreased as salinity increased from 0 to 700 mmol/L NaCl. Seeds that did not complete germination in the 800 or 700 mmol/L NaCl solutions did complete germination after being transferred to distilled water, with a recovery rate of 94.5% and 75.5%, respectively, at 25/15 °C. The inhibitory effect of NaCl on the completion of germination in this species probably occurs via an osmotic effect.